Thomas ii



(No Model.)

T. H. LOVELL.

DOUBLE GONTAGT SWITCH. No. 456,493. Patented July Z1, 1891.

W l l Z-Zowney UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS Il. LOVELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. A

DOUBLE-CONTACT SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,493, dated July 21,1891.

Application tiled December 2, 1890. Serial No. 373,374. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS II. LovELL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDouble-Contact Switches, of which I hereby declare the following to'be afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in donble-contact switches; and itsobjects are to separate the electrodes of the broken line at theswitch-point sufficiently to prevent the danger of the current crossingfrom one to the other when the circuit is open and to interpose theresistance of a double are to the current.

My object is also to provide a simple and inexpensive form of deviceWhich will be adapted to all varieties of current, but especially tocurrents of high tension and high electro-motive force.

My invention consists in a movable integral portion of the circuit, withmeans for withdrawing the same and securing it so as to open or closethe circuit, and in the arrangement and combination of parts andconstruction of details, as hereinafter de` scribed, shown in theaccompanying drawings, and more speciiically pointed out in the claim.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a plan of the complete switch. Fig. 2 is aplan of the interior with the cover and index removed, the

positions being shown in solid and dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transversesection on line Z Z, Fig. l; and Fig. it isa detail ot' spindle carryingthe switch-plate.

A in all the figures represents a spindle of non-conducting material,such as fiber or vulcanite, which is vertically movable in fixedbearings o. c at either end. This spindle is provided with a groove o',into which the plate B is compressed in such a manner as to project ateither side, as at Z), the extremities of the plate being rounded forthe purpose of easily passing the contact-points c, as will be explainedhereinafter. A

C and C are Contact springs or electrodes fixed rigidly at one end uponbearings D and arranged on either side of the spindle A and extremitiesot the plate B, so as to come into contact. A pin A passes out throughthe cover ll, and is provided with a knob or enlargement A2, adapted tobe grasped by the lingers in moving the plate B into or ont of contactwith the terminals C, a slot 7L being made in the cover for thatpurpose. To this pin A is attached the pointer a', whichindicates,alternately, the points on7 or om according as the contact is made orbroken. In order to retain the plate in contact with thespring-electrodes C and C', depressions c and c are made in the springsto receive the rounded ends of the plate, before mentioned, and sustainthe plate and spindle.

It will be observed that as soon as the plate B is pressed down out ofthe depressions c and c in the springs its weight, with that of theaccompanying spindle A, will be sufficient to drop it out of contact andto such a distance from the electrodes that the current cannot pass,while it can again easily be elevated by the knob A2, if desired. Theshoulder a2 0n the spindle acts as a stop to limit the downwardmovement. i

The cover H is preferably made of noncon ducting material, as fiber orvulcanite; but it' metal is used a thin film of mica, liber, orvulcanite can be interposed between the electrodes and the cover, asshown in the section, Fig. 3, at X.

A light spring, as a3, may be employed to assist the action of gravityin separating the plate B from the electrodes, or if the switch be usedin a horizontal position a heavier spring may be employed to accomplishthis purpose.

The advantages of this device are obvious in its adaptation tohigh-tension current, since the distance between the electrodes is greatand two are resistances would have to be overcome before a current couldcross from one electrode to the other by way of the contactplate.

All the working parts are preferably included within a portable box, asO, openings, as y Iy, being left in the box for the passage ot' theline-wires.

An additional plate of mica or insulating material may be placed underthe working parts. p

Having thus described my invention, what IOS) I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters provided with recesses c c', adapted to receivePatent, isand secure the rounded extremities b b of the 1o In adouble-contact'switch, a, xed plate B, plate B, substantially asdescribed.

mounted upon a movable insulated spindle A,

having longitudinal movementin bearings d THOMAS H. LOVELL. ct at eitherend, and an operating-pin A', in Vtnesses:

combination with spring-electrodes C C', WVM. M. MONROE, mounted oneither side of the spindle A and F. H. MOORE.

